It’s no surprise that California is spearheading EV adoption in the U.S. California made buying an EV a no-brainer for many commuters. Not only is electricity cheaper than gasoline, but EV drivers don’t have to pay California’s high gas taxes. To sweeten the pot, California allowed EV drivers with no passengers to skip the sate’s infamous gridlock by hopping into the carpool lane. But that may all change by the end of the year. So will Californians keep buying electric vehicles in record numbers?
Feds may kick EVs out of California carpool lanes
You may be surprised to hear: California doesn’t even get final say on whether EVs are allowed in its own carpool lanes. The interstates are a federal project. The 1998 federal statute that allows states to allow low emissions vehicles into the carpool lane expires on September 30th, 2025.
Would California like it renewed? You bet. A Republican state assemblyman even authored the bill to extend this statute. His name is Greg Wallis and he admits, “Many California auto buyers purchase ZEVs to access HOV lanes.” He added, “I strongly encourage the Trump administration to extend the program to keep our transportation transition moving in the right direction.”
Despite Wallis’ pleas, the Trump administration has made no move to renew the statute. Vice President JD Vance famously proposed trading the EV tax credit for a tax credit for internal combustion cars, with larger trucks and SUVs getting the highest kickbacks. We’ll have to see if Elon Musk–who has pledged nearly $300M to President Trump-affiliated super PACs–can sway the President to keep HOV access for Teslas and other EVS.
California may slap EVs with a mileage fee
California charges a $0.59 tax for every gallon of gas. The average ICE vehicle driver in California pays $300 in gas taxes, every year. The average EV driver? $0. Legislative analysts predict they’ll “lose” $5 billion by 2035 if EV adoption increases as fast as, well, as fast as the legislature wants it to…